[Cholesterol-crystal embolization after PTCA. Case report and review of the literature]

A 62-year-old male patient with depression after coronary intervention (PTCA) 4 weeks earlier.

The patient developed insufficiency of liver and kidney as well as painful toe lesions. Some more symptoms were observed such as recurrent pulmonary edema, arterial hypertension, hardly responding to medical therapy, and severe gastrointestinal symptoms. The variety of symptoms and the progress of the disease were similar to a generalized vasculitis. Renal biopsy yielded the diagnosis of cholesterol-crystal embolization (CCE). After short-term remission, the patient died following prolonged and severe progression of the disease.

CCE is a rare disease with devastating outcome. Clinicians should be aware of the disease, especially with regard to an increasing number of coronary interventions in older patients.